The need to improve our nation’s food safety laws is being heightened by a series of high-profile food safety incidents. The following index catalogues some of the most notable public health, economic, food import, and polling statistics that underscore the need for improvement in our food safety system.

5. Percent of Americans that were aware of instances of food recalls due to health and safety concerns in a March 2009 survey [ASQ; Last Accessed 3.18.10]:

93

6. Percent of Americans that strongly or somewhat agree that “the government should have the ability to require a food recall when there are concerns about food safety” in a November 2008 survey [Consumer Reports; Last Accessed 3.18.10]:

8. Percent of Americans that strongly or somewhat agree that “when food safety problems arise, the government should be able to quickly and accurately trace food from production to sale” in a November 2008 survey [Consumer Reports; Last Accessed 3.18.10]:

10. Percent of Americans that support requiring foreign countries that export food to the U.S. to certify that their food safety systems are as strong as ours in a September 2009 survey [Hart/Public Opinion; Last Accessed 3.18.10]:

8. Percentage increase in the number of foreign vegetable and vegetable product shipments refused for importation by the FDA since 2000 [FDA Import Refusal Statistics; Last Accessed 3.18.10; here and here]: